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1497
John Cabot Explores the New England Coastline
Many European countries sent government sponsored explorers. John Cabot explored the New England coastline of the Americas on behalf of England. -
1519
Ferdinand Magellan Becomes the First Person to Sail Completely Around the Globe
Ferdinand Magellan was another explorer funded by Spain. He wanted to find a sea passage through the Americas. He passed through a waterway along the tip of South America, later named the Strait of Magellan in October 1520. He and his group reached the Philippines but were killed by the indigenous people there. Ferdinand Magellan is remembered as the first person to completely sail around the globe. -
Apr 22, 1519
Hernan Cortes Lands in Veracruz
In 1519, a small army consisting of 550 soldiers and 16 horses led by Hernán Cortes land in Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico. Cortes and his group went to Tenochtitlan and on the way made alliances with city states that were tired of the oppressive Aztec rule. -
Aug 29, 1533
Francisco Pizzaro executes Atahualpa
Francisco Pizzaro executed the last Incan emperor, Atahualpa. Pizarro had initially captured Atahualpa during a meeting in the city of Cajamarca in 1532, where he had invited the emperor under the pretense of peace. Despite Atahualpa's offer to fill a room with gold and twice with silver in exchange for his release, Pizarro reneged on his promise. Instead, he had Atahualpa executed by strangulation, marking a brutal end to Incan sovereignty and paving the way for Spanish dominance in the region. -
1534
Jacques Cartier explores the St. Lawrence River
In the early 16th century, European powers were in search of new trade routes and territories. Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, was commissioned by King Francis I to explore the New World and find a passage to Asia. In 1534, Cartier embarked on his first voyage to North America, claiming the lands along the St. Lawrence River and surrounding areas for France. -
1543
Portuguese reach Japan
three Portuguese merchants landed on Tanegashima Island at the southern tip of the Japanese Archipelago after their boat was blown off course. -
Jan 1, 1550
Commercial Revolution
The commercial revolution marked a significant turning point as Europeans established direct trade routes with Asia, Africa, and the Americas, resulting in profound economic impacts for both Europeans and their colonies. Inflation surged due to the influx of wealth, primarily from the gold and silver extracted from the Americas. This event heavily influenced the economic standing and standard of living for nations and their populations. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
English found Massachusetts Bay Colony. The colony only had four thousand people living within is, but as it became known the population grew to forty-thousand... Dutch take over Portuguese forts in the Indian Ocean trading areas. They occupied these forts which were located along the trade routes all throughout the Indian Ocean. -
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade was a network of trade routes connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. European goods were transported to Africa in exchange for slaves, who were then taken to the Americas. In the Americas, the slaves were traded for raw materials, which were shipped back to Europe, completing the cycle. This trade system stimulated economies and facilitated the exchange of essential goods and labor. -
The Beginning of French Colonization
The French colonized parts of Canada that were called New France and Louisiana. Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec, the first permanent French settlement in 1608. The population of New France grew when it became a royal province in 1663. -
Founding of Jamestown
Jamestown was established by the Virginia Company of London, an English joint-stock company looking to establish a profitable colony in North America. The settlement was located on the banks of the James River in present-day Virginia and was founded on May 14, 1607. -
Mayflower Compact Signed
In the early 17th century, a group known as Pilgrims sought religious freedom and autonomy from the Church of England. As a result, they set on a voyage to colonize modern-day Massachusetts and signed the Mayflower Compact, a legal agreement that established a form of self-government for the Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower Compact was a significant milestone in the history of democratic governance as it showed one of the earliest attempts at self-government by settlers in the New World. -
The Dutch West India Company
Around the end of the 16th century, several new European countries started to rival the Portuguese and the Spanish for colonial power. The Dutch formed the West India company but lacked resources and power to maintain these gains. After 1660, the company fell to its rivals, the English and the French and soon went bankrupt. -
Abel Tasman Discovers New Zealand
Abel Tasman, a Dutch navigator and explorer, was commissioned by the Dutch East India Company to explore the uncharted regions of the Southern Hemisphere. In 1642, Abel Tasman embarked on his first major voyage of exploration, during which he became one of the first Europeans to discover the island of Tasmania, which he named Van Diemen's Land, later renamed Tasmania. -
Treaty of Westphalia
The Treaty of Westphalia was a series of two peace treaties signed on October 24, 1648, ending the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. It marked the beginning of the modern nation-state system and the decline of the Holy Roman Empire as the central political authority in Europe. -
Trade
Dutch take over Portuguese forts in the Indian Ocean trading areas. They occupied these forts which were located along the trade routes all throughout the Indian Ocean. -
Establishment of Dutch Colony at the Cape of Good Hope (1652-1654):
In the mid-17th century, the Dutch East India Company, seeking to establish a refreshment station for its ships traveling to and from the Dutch East Indies, established a small settlement at the Cape of Good Hope. The Cape provided a strategic midpoint for ships to resupply with fresh water, food, and other provisions. -
Establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company was founded in 1670 by an English royal charter, with the objective of exploiting the lucrative fur trade in North America. At the time of its establishment, North America was a contested region among the various European powers. -
A New Colonial Empire
The English established a colonial empire in North America after the Massachusetts Bay Colony grew to forty-thousand settlers...The Burmese sack Thai capital. They forced the Thai to make a new capital down in the far south. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the British-French global conflict, establishing British dominance in North America. France ceded Canada, territories east of the Mississippi to Britain, and the Louisiana Territory to Spain. However, France retained its Caribbean islands and slave-trading outposts despite the treaty. This treaty signified the end of a long war and aided America's expansion. -
Captain James Cook discovers Hawaii
Captain James Cook's discovery of Hawaii in January 1778 aboard the HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery marked a significant moment in exploration. Naming the islands the "Sandwich Islands," Cook introduced them to the Western world. His meticulous mapping and documentation of the islands provided valuable knowledge. Despite occasional tensions with native Hawaiians, Cook's exploration greatly expanded European understanding of the Pacific. -
Christopher Columbus's Letter
1847 - A letter was sent back to the treasure of the king and queen of Spain from Christopher Columbus about his first journey.